Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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March 22, 2007

Fighting Intensifies in Pakistan's Tribal Border Area
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=16C059D:A6F02AD83191E1607AA40F3E609D3DA79574F7DCC14957C0 At least 135
killed in four days of fighting between local, foreign militants
Pakistani officials say at least 135 people have been killed after
four days of sometimes intense fighting between local and foreign
militants in the country's remote tribal region. From Islamabad, VOA
correspondent Benjamin Sand reports the four-day battle shows no sign
of easing.







Pakistani army soldiers patrol a street in Miranshah, the main North
Waziristan town along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, 17 Feb 2007The
growing conflict is centered in the restive South Waziristan tribal
region, not far from the Afghan border.

Fighting erupted Monday between local tribesmen and several hundred
Central Asian militants.

Pakistani authorities say most of the casualties are Uzbek
nationalists who may be linked to Osama bin Laden and al-Qaida.

Local residents say the fighting started after tribesmen tried to
force the Uzbek militants out of Waziristan.

Army spokesman Maj. Gen. Wahid Arshad says the conflict is, at least
in part, the result of a government push to enlist local support in
the fight against foreign extremists operating inside Pakistan.

"The tribes are part of the government's effort.  They have an
agreement with the government and they (the tribes) are the ones who
are fighting them, the foreign militants and their supporters," Arshad
said.

The government signed a series of controversial peace agreements with
local tribesmen who have promised to get rid of foreign militants in
exchange for a freer hand in local affairs.

Hundreds of Arab and Central Asian militants entered the region from
neighboring Afghanistan in 2001 after U.S. forces ousted the hard-line
Islamist Taleban regime. 

U.S. and Afghan officials say the militants, including hundreds of
Uzbek nationalists, established a series of bases in both North and
South Waziristan.

But government critics say the current fighting is not necessarily a
sign of progress.

Retired General Talat Masood says the violence is more of an internal
power struggle between rival militant factions.

On one side, he says, there are the foreign extremists with ties to
al-Qaida. On the other are the local tribes, many of whom still
support the Taleban and remain deeply opposed to Pakistan's central
government. 

He says neither side is inclined toward supporting Islamabad and
neither side is likely to help improve regional security.




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